NEW YORK
The Utah Jazz traded Turkish center Enes Kanter to the Oklahoma City Thunder Thursday as part of a three-team deal that also involved the Detroit Pistons.
The Thunder, which is currently in a hard-fought battle with the New Orleans Pelicans and the Phoenix Suns to hold the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, acquired Kanter and forward Steve Novak from Utah along with guard D.J. Augustin and forward Kyle Singler from Detroit.
As part of the deal, which was confirmed by the three teams Thursday, the Thunder also got a 2019 second round draft selection from the Detroit Pistons.
In return, Detroit bolstered its backcourt with guard Reggie Jackson from Oklahoma City, while waiving its 2017 second round draft selection rights to the Utah Jazz.
To conclude the deal, Utah nabbed rookie forward Grant Jerrett, the rights to German center Tibor Pleiss, center Kendrick Perkins and a future first-round pick from Oklahoma City.
"We're extremely pleased to welcome Enes, Steve, D.J. and Kyle," Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti said. "We feel we have added talent, toughness and commitment to our roster and we are excited about the depth and versatility these additions provide."
Kanter, 22, who was the number three pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, is averaging career-highs with 13.8 points and 7.8 rebounds on 27.1 minutes in 49 games this season.
In Oklahoma City, he will play alongside the star duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.